[Dixielandjazz] Chord Question in "Louisiana"

[Graham Martin]

Hi Larry,

Just based on the evidence of the well-known chord/fake books and my own
ear, I believe either can be used. The majority of books, including my own
which dates back to the 1950s, have the last eight bars as
Db/Dbm/Ab/F7/Eb7/Eb7/Ab/Ab. However, the Bertie Butler chords which are
fairly widely used has Db/Dbm/Ab/F7/Bbm7/Eb7/Ab/Ab. To me that Bbm7 instead
of your Bb7 sounds even better. However, I am a trombone player and what
would I know......

I think the main thing is for the rhythm section to agree so that at
everyone is at least playing the same progression!

Nice tune! My favourite recordings are by Bix, Eddie Condon and Alex Welsh.

Welcome aboard the Traditional Jazz (OKOM) scene!

Best,

Grah

Graham Martin
REDLAND BAY, Qld., Australia 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Zaidan [mailto:zaidanl at coppelia-enterprises.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 27 August 2014 4:12 AM
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Chord Question in "Louisiana"

Dear Listers:

Is the chord, 4 bars from the end of the chorus definitely an Eb, or can it
be played as a Bb7?

As written: F7/Eb7/Eb7/Ab/Ab, the last 5 bars make intellectual sense, but I
find the F7 going to Eb7 too jarring.

I feel that it flows more smoothly, harmonically, as F7/Bb7/Eb7/Ab/Ab for
the last 5 bars, in spite of the obvious melodic clues.

Any insight would be appreciated!  (As you can probably guess, I am fairly
new to the Trad Jazz scene.)

Thanks,

Larry Z.